Mexico City Maps
Hotels
Dining
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City, the oldest metropolis on the American continent, is perched atop a
highland valley at about 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level. Towering
high above the city’s southeast side are two volcanoes: Popocatepetl and
Iztaccihuatl. The nation’s capital has some of the best weather in the world
with an average temperature of 22º C (72º F).
Once known as the City of Palaces, Mexico City has two areas that were declared
World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico (Historic
Center), has beautiful historic and religious buildings, such as the Catedral
Metropolitano (Metropolitan Cathedral), one of the most important architectural
structures in the Western Hemisphere. The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has
spectacular Diego Rivera murals that chronicle Mexico’s history. And Palacio de
Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), which hosts the city’s most important
cultural events, is a beautiful construction that blends art nouveau and art
deco styles. The other World Heritage Site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often
called the nals. Flower-painted boats offer tours of the canals and floating
gardens.
If you’re interested in cultural events, Mexico City offers a wide variety of
museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (a world-class anthropology
museum), the Museo Nacional de Arte (The National Art Museum) and the Museo
Nacional de Historia (a history museum in Chapultepec Castle where you can see
an amazing exhibit that chronicles the nation’s history and art, from the
pre-Hispanic era to present day).
In north Mexico City, you can visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most
visited basilicas in the world; in fact, it is second only to Saint Peter’s
Basilica, in Vatican City, in the number of visitors it receives each year. This
is a must-see for those who want to learn more about the city’s customs and
traditions.
What’s more, Mexico City is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where new and old
traditions coexist side by side. Here you can go shopping at bazaars and crafts
markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods. Or you can go to exclusive
boutiques and shopping centers in the posh communities of Santa Fe and Polanco,
where you’ll be surrounded by the comfort of top-notch
hotels and restaurants.
